Theo Paradise-Hirst appointed as Head of Lighting

Associate Director, Theo takes charge of ChapmanBDSP's lighting team just as the practice has been shortlisted for a BLUEPRINT award for its work on the Design Museum and continues to work on ground-breaking projects in London and the Middle East.

‘I’m delighted to be heading this wonderful design team at such an exciting time in the industry, Theo says. ‘With smart phones, smart communication and multi-media, the industry is in a period of great innovation and engagement. From a building services point of view, we can embrace that and there’s a huge appetite for us to be in an open design dialogue with our clients, some of whom are the greatest interior designers and architects of our time.’

Theo, who worked on the high-profile Battersea redevelopment as well as the Design Museum refurbishment, says the team will focus on giving clients a greater understanding of the benefits of an in-house specialist lighting team working hand-in-hand with MEP team(s), providing a truly integrated design.

With over 240 employees, many of whom who have a deep lighting, engineering and electronics experience, ChapmanBDSP has a ‘very powerful point of difference from our rivals’ he explains.

‘The market leading Technical Advisory Group system is an overarching innovative group that leads the dialogue and discussion in the business for all projects. It has a continuous appetite to look for more. Our depth and knowledge means that the client knows they are getting the right expertise at all levels,’ he says. And with more than 20 years of industry experience himself, Theo, adds the industry has ‘never been more exciting to work in’.

He says: ‘ The direction of design is moving towards visually rich environments. It’s a pleasure to come into our studio and develop our projects, thinking; how can we make these places great? There’s never been more out there in terms of opportunity, design, creativity, appetite and expectation.’

Theo adds: ‘There’s an innovation culture, similar to mobile phones at the moment, everybody is always expecting something new. Architecture is following that and it is noticeable. It’s not a gimmick, there’s a genuine sense of wanting to make things better and as good as it can be for the people who occupy those spaces.‘It’s not so much about the technology it’s about the aspiration. You are only as good as your last piece of work and you are always striving for something new.’

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